Welcome to the Friends of the Healesville Freeway Reserve
The Healesville Freeway reserve between Springvale & Boronia Road is currently in a planning process for alternative use as the road will not proceed. The Community uses sections of this reserve as open space for Active and Passive Recreation. There are also several sections of endangered remnant bushland along the reserve that provide habitat for native animals.
This site aims to keep the community up to date with information regarding the consultation process and help to retain community access to the reserve following the conclusion of the consultation process. To date we have collected almost 5000 signatures (4981 if you think we should be exact) for the petition.
How can you help?
Follow us on Facebook and subscribe to the news letter to keep up to date with information.
For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Friends of the Healesville Freeway Reserve (Whitehorse)
23rd March ’14 - Action Day Report
What a day we had! We had been watching the weather with trepidation, initially the forecast was 70% chance of rain then it changed to 40%. Finally the day was overcast but clear and a collective sigh of relief was breathed!
Set up started early with an area for the 5 displays, the voting and the BBQ.
The day started slowly, with people trickling in from 10am, Michael Sukkar, the Federal member for Deakin dropped in soon after and met the early birds.
The numbers continued to grow steadily and by the time we had the speeches it was full house!
With 260 votes collected on the day, we estimate the attendance at 400, as not everyone who attended stayed for the whole time and several people who attended had already voted at the Face to Face promotion of the event at the local shopping centres on the 15th, 16th & 22nd March’14 and so could not vote again.
Though there were 5 concepts, people had a choice between 3 options for land use – 100% Open space, 20% Housing or 60+% Housing.
- Open Space Options - The ALP have promised if they win government, to keep all the reserve as open space, handing it over to Parks Victoria, with $650,000 promised for a biolink/shared path. The Community also put up a concept for 100% open space.
- 20% Housing Options – Again there were two concepts – The Community concept for 20% housing and the Whitehorse Council’s vision with 19% housing
- 60+% Housing – This number is an estimation as VicRoads have still not announced what the percentage of housing in their concept works out to. They have confirmed though that their concept would include the tree lined shared path, which was the concept on display.
The speakers for the day were - Neil Angus, member for the Lower House of Forest Hill representing the Coalition. The ALP was represented by Shaun Leane, Upper House member for Eastern Metropolitan, and Pauline Richards who has been preselected for the Lower House seat of Forest Hill. Greg Barber leader of the Greens was there with local candidate for the Upper House, Samantha Dunn. Morack ward Councillors Raylene Carr and Bill Bennett and Raeoni Turner from Nadrasca.
Other councillors from the City of Whitehorse who attended were Andrew Munroe and Andrew Davenport. At noon everyone gathered to hear the speakers who set out their views and then took questions from the Community.
Neil Angus 
Shaun Leane 
Greg Barber 
Bill Bennet & Raylene Carr
A special thank you to the Vermont Lions who worked hard to keep everyone fed on the day!
All the voting slips have now been counted and the result of the view the community expressed is overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the HFR corridor as Open Space.
The No 1 issue people voted for as most important was – Open space at 85% while the VicRoads concept got the least votes at less than 1%.
- Total Votes – 758
- Action day votes – 260
- Face to face – 498 (conducted on 15th, 16th & 22nd March at Vermont South Shopping Centre and Brentford Square Shopping Centre)
Break Up by Concept
Ranking – 1 Most liked ---------- 5 Least liked
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Australian Labor Party – 100% Open Space
|
42.92% |
25.94% |
14.31% |
12.89% |
3.93% |
City of Whitehorse Vision – approx 20% Housing
|
2.99% |
11.16% |
35.06% |
49.53% |
1.26% |
Concept 4 Preservation - 100% Open Space
|
41.67% |
45.13% |
7.70% |
4.25% |
1.26% |
Low Impact Housing -20% Housing
|
11.64% |
17.14% |
41.51% |
28.93% |
0.79% |
Vic Roads Shared Path Concept – 60% housing
|
0.79% |
0.63% |
1.42% |
4.40% |
92.77% |
The Next Step
Now that there is a clear choice for the community between the Coalition and Labor view on this issue, the final say on the HFR should be taken to an election. We call on the Premier Dr. Napthine, Ministers for Roads and Planning, Terry Mulder and Matthew Guy to provide some assurance to the community that no final decisions will be made or contracts signed until after the election, when people are allowed to express their choice through the ballot box. To do any different would be a breach of faith with the community.
Thank you, to all the people who came out in numbers to have their say on what they want for their community.
Other Resources
The result of the view the community expressed at the Action day held on 23rd March was
Overwhelming in favour of retaining the HFR corridor as Open Space
The No 1 issue people voted for as most important was – Open space at 85% while the VicRoads concept got the least votes at less than 1%
Total Votes – 758
- Action day votes – 260
- Face to face – 498 (conducted on 15th, 16th & 22nd March at Vermont South Shopping Center and Brentford Square Shopping Center)
Estimated attendance at the Action Day – 400
Not everyone who attended stayed for the whole time and several people who attended had already voted at the Face to Face and so could not vote again.
Break Up by Concept - 1 Most liked - 5 Least liked
Ranking- 1 2 3 4 5
Australian Labor Party – 100% Open Space
|
42.92% |
25.94% |
14.31% |
12.89% |
3.93% |
City of Whitehorse Vision – approx 20% Housing
|
2.99% |
11.16% |
35.06% |
49.53% |
1.26% |
Concept 4 Preservation - 100% Open Space
|
41.67% |
45.13% |
7.70% |
4.25% |
1.26% |
Low Impact Housing -20% Housing
|
11.64% |
17.14% |
41.51% |
28.93% |
0.79% |
Vic Roads Shared Path Concept – 60% housing
|
0.79% |
0.63% |
1.42% |
4.40% |
92.77% |
When - Sunday 23 March 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2.00 pm.
Speeches from 12 noon
Where - George Road end of the Bellbird Dell (Melway 62 J-6)
The aims of this activity are to:
- Enable the Whitehorse community to view and discuss the Community, Whitehorse Council and ALP concept plans for the development of the Healesville Freeway Reserve
- Compare the Community, Whitehorse Council and ALP concept plans to those put forward by VicRoads in November 2013
- Hear the views of our elected representatives (State, Local and Opposition) on the future for the Healesville Freeway Reserve.
- Assist Whitehorse community members in making informed decisions regarding the future uses and development of this important 35-hectare site.
From 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. all development concepts will be displayed in Bellbird Dell Reserve (George Road entrance, Melway 62 J-6).
From 12 noon political representatives will be asked to make a speech on their views for the future of the reserve and answer questions from members of the community.
A sausage sizzle and refreshments will be provided.
Come along and have your say!
Today Daniel Andrews, Leader of the ALP announced.
- ALP announcement -
Daniel Andrews ALP will be making an announcement about the HFR.
When - Tuesday 25th February at 12.00pm.
Location - Davy Lane reserve.
All welcome to attend
- Community Action day - The Friends of the HFR are having a 'Community Action Day'.
When -Sunday 23rd March from 10am – 2pm, with speeches from 12noon onwards.
Location – George Road end of the Bellbird Dell (Melway 62/J6)
It is an opportunity for the community to see all the HFR land use concepts at one place.
There will be Concept displays from VicRoads, Council and the Friends of the HFR
Invited speakers from – State Government, Opposition, Council, VicRoads
Come along, ask questions and give your view on what you want.
Free event, All Welcome!
Council Concepts
On 28 January 2014, Council resolved to release its vision for the Healesville Freeway Reservation for community consultation. You can read the full details regarding the Council's vision on the Whitehorse Council Website here. Read the Council News Release.
Hard copies of the vision can be viewed at the city’s libraries or at Council’s Customer Service Centres at:
- Whitehorse Civic Centre, 379-397 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading
- Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill
- Level 2, Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, Canterbury Road, Forest Hill
Comments on the vision can be made by completing an online survey available here.
Council will also be holding a public drop-in session on Thursday 13 February 2014 from 4pm-8pm at Sportlink, 2 Hanover Road, Vermont South where Council officers will be available to discuss the project.
The community will be given an opportunity to provide feedback on the vision by:
- Completing an online survey.
- Completing a reply paid hard copy survey, to be returned by 19th February 2014, available from customer service centres and in the Whitehorse Leader.
- Information can also be obtained and surveys completed at Council’s drop-in session, scheduled from 4pm – 8pm on Thursday 13th February 2014 at Sportlink, 2 Hanover Road, Vermont South (next to the Vermont South Shopping Centre)
- Surveys can also be completed at our Ward Forum on 18th February.
Following the consultation period, the Strategic Planning Unit will analyse all submissions and report them to Council for consideration of any changes that may need to be made to Council’s Vision in light of the community feedback received.
Please note this is a proposal and can be amended based on feed back at consultation, so if you have any concerns please voice them via the online survey or the face to face session at Sportlink.
Feedback from the Friends of the HFR
To help with getting through the volume of information, the Friends of the HFR have prepared a feedback response to the council’s vision. You can view the feedback here.
Morack Ward Forum
Councillors Raylene Carr and Bill Bennett invite you to attend the first Morack Ward Residents Forum for 2014.
Community Room, Horticultural Centre, 82 Jolimont Road, Forest Hill
Tuesday, 18th February, 2014 – 7.30pm
The forum provides you with an opportunity to meet your Ward Councillors and to comment or ask questions about local community issues that are of concern to you.
Associated Documents
Council Letter of introduction
City of Whitehorse Vision & Survey
Ward Forum Invitation Feb 2014
More Articles...
- January 2014 update - Alternative Community Concepts
- VicRoads refuses to extend public consultation
- Response to Concepts and workshops
- 3 Options and issues with process and content
- Workshop Option Assessment card
- HAVE YOUR SAY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!!
- Upcoming Dates: Minister's visit Nov 6th, Ward meeting Nov 19th
- November Update - 3 Option Consultation dates
- August Update - Senator Wong's visit
- What next
- Healesville Freeway Community Open Day - 26th May 2013
- HFR Open Day Acknowledgements
- May Update
- April Update
- March Update 2013
- Thankyou to our supporters
- Petition
- Petition delivered for tabling in Parliament
- Community Consultation Dates
- Healesville Freeway Reservation Renewal Project
- Presentation Summaries